Uproar Forces Ullu to Pull Ajaz Khan’s Sexually Explicit Show “House Arrest”

GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 2nd May: Actor Ajaz Khan’s controversial reality show “House Arrest” has been removed from the streaming platform Ullu following a growing outcry over its sexually explicit content.

As of Friday, searching for “House Arrest” on the Ullu app, primarily known for its adult-oriented programming, yielded no results. The platform displayed the message: “Your search for ‘House Arrest’ did not find any matches.” This action comes after a short video clip from the show went viral, sparking widespread outrage and strong condemnation from political figures and the public on social media.

The contentious clip depicted Khan allegedly pressuring female contestants to engage in intimate acts on camera. The conversation also appeared to make several participants uncomfortable due to probing and vulgar personal questions.

Taking suo motu cognizance of the escalating controversy, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has summoned Ullu CEO Vibhu Agarwal and Ajaz Khan, a former “Bigg Boss” contestant, to appear before it on May 9th. The NCW strongly condemned the show’s content, stating in a post on X, “Viral clips show women being coerced into intimate acts on camera. NCW slams the platform for promoting vulgarity & violating consent.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi shared a clip from the show on X on Thursday, questioning why content platforms producing such “obscene content” are not banned. “I have raised this in the standing committee that apps such as this, namely, Ullu App and Alt Balaji have managed to escape the ban by I&B ministry on apps for obscene content. I am still awaiting their reply,” she wrote.

Chaturvedi further shared a list of 18 OTT platforms banned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in March 2024 for streaming obscene and pornographic content, highlighting the exclusion of Ullu and Alt Balaji and demanding an explanation.

Maharashtra BJP MLC Chitra Wagh also vehemently demanded an immediate ban on the show, stating on X, “Stop giving a free rein to obscenity in the name of freedom of expression. Immediately ban Ajaz Khan’s ‘House Arrest’. It has crossed all limits of obscenity.” She expressed concern over children easily accessing such content on mobile phones, asserting that these programs “insult our culture” and “degrade the moral health of society,” posing a “perverse attack on the minds of the next generation.”

“House Arrest,” which premiered on Ullu on April 11th, was marketed as an uncensored version of captive reality shows like “Bigg Boss” and “Lock Upp.” Its premise revolved around 12 contestants (nine women and three men) confined in a luxurious villa and tasked with performing various challenges.

Gehna Vashisht, a participant on the show, acknowledged receiving numerous messages calling for its ban due to vulgarity. In a video on Instagram, she questioned the selective outrage, asking why action isn’t taken against pornography websites.

Numerous social media users also criticized Khan and the Ullu app for allegedly promoting vulgarity under the guise of content. One user on X remarked, “Ajaz Khan & Ullu app are both repeat offenders. Why is there no censorship on such vulgar OTT shows? Thought porn sites were banned in India.” Another user questioned the ban on a dark comedy show while seemingly vulgar content remains accessible.

Launched in 2018, Ullu app offers a diverse range of content, including web series, movies, and reality programs, often focusing on bold and adult narratives. The removal of “House Arrest” underscores the growing scrutiny and backlash against overtly explicit content on streaming platforms in India.